<\/p>\n
GREEN BAY \u2212 It took just three games of the season for the\u00a0Green Bay Packers\u00a0to experience life in the National Football League.<\/p>\n
One minute, a team can be on top of the world. The next, it feels like the sky is falling.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Packers\u00a0started the season with two dominant wins against NFC contenders, the\u00a0Lions\u00a0and Commanders, and the hype and attention was focused on Green Bay.<\/p>\n
Even some of the players might have been caught up in the fast start.<\/p>\n
Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker told reporters before facing the\u00a0Browns\u00a0he felt the Packers\u00a0could go undefeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cPound for pound, I look at these teams, and I don’t really see who’s better than us honestly,\u201d Walker said. \u201cThat’s why I can say that so confidently.”<\/p>\n
That undefeated streak ended at the hands of the\u00a0Cleveland Browns\u00a0on a walk-off field goal.<\/p>\n
“It’s always a good reminder, like, hey guys, pump the brakes on everything. We’re just trying to win one game at a time,\u201d Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. \u201cIf you’re thinking anything outside of that, you have your mindset on the wrong things.”<\/p>\n
The Packers have proven through three games they\u2019re more than capable of beating any team in the NFL, but if they\u2019re not fully focused or prepared on the opponent, they can lose to any team as well. It\u2019s a lesson LaFleur hopes his team learned after a disappointing outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis league is such a week-to-week league and you can never lose sight of that, and you can\u2019t take any moment, any game for granted,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cI\u2019ve said it a million times to you guys. I don\u2019t think, obviously, I\u2019ve said it enough to our team \u2014 the goal is to go 1-0 every week and it pisses me off when we start talking about things outside the next game. Things that are way down the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep the focus on the present, on the now, and worry about getting better each and every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are other takeaways from LaFleur\u2019s Sept. 22 news conference:<\/p>\n
The Packers had several players suffer injuries against the Browns.<\/p>\n
LaFleur said he doesn\u2019t feel that tackle\u00a0Zach Tom\u00a0suffered any setbacks with his oblique injury but dropped out of the game after one play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn’t say further reaggravated,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cIt’s more or less \u2014 it’s always hard to simulate what you’re going to face in the game and you have to ask him, but I think the force of the guy he was going against, it hurt him, so didn\u2019t feel like he could go.”<\/p>\n
Guard Aaron Banks was playing through a groin injury and also exited the game.<\/p>\n
LaFleur confirmed that safety Javon Bullard is in concussion protocol after taking a big hit in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
On the Packers radio broadcast, John Kuhn said defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt injured his knee late in the fourth quarter. LaFleur said he\u2019ll be \u201cday-to-day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tight end\u00a0Tucker Kraft\u00a0injured his knee during the team\u2019s Sept. 18 practice and was listed as questionable to play in the game. He played and had three receptions for 29 yards.<\/p>\n
“It says a lot about him, just in terms of the competitor he is,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cI think he’s feeling good.”<\/p>\n
Despite the issues for the Packers on offense against the Browns\u2019 top-ranked defense, they still had a chance to either take the lead or win the game, but Brandon McManus\u2019 43-yard field goal was blocked by Shelby Harris with 35 seconds to play.<\/p>\n
The kicking battery of McManus, long snapper Matt Orzech and holder Daniel Whelan felt good about the operation, but the Packers had problems in the protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it comes down to just being disciplined and trusting your technique and what you\u2019re coached to do on a daily basis, and unfortunately, we got lifted,\u201d LaFleur said. \u201cWe played with poor pad level. We didn\u2019t take the correct steps. Just didn\u2019t perform the right technique. If you don\u2019t do that against a really good team that is going to rush hard, you\u2019re susceptible to having a catastrophic event occur.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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